US, EU ask India, other non-signatories to join NPT

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 4 (PTI) In an attempt to ratchet up
pressure on India over the NPT issue, the US and the European
Union have asked all non-signatories of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, including India, to sign the
pact which it considers discriminatory.

The US and the EU urged countries, including India, that
are not part of the NPT regime to accede to the controversial
treaty as non-nuclear weapon states to achieve universality.
The call came in a joint declaration at the conclusion of
the US-EU 2009 Summit Tuesday.
It came a little over a month after the US-sponsored UN
Security Council resolution called on all nations to sign the
NPT and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The resolution at a Security Council session led by US
President Barack Obama was not well received in India which
has not signed the treaty since it considered that the NPT's
norms are unacceptable, discriminatory and grossly unfair.
Voicing their commitment to preserving and strengthening
the authority and integrity of the NPT, the US and EU said
that the treaty, based on its three reinforcing pillars of
non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear
energy, represented a unique and irreplaceable framework for
maintaining and strengthening international peace, security
and stability.
Expressing support for entry into force of CTBT at an
early date and in the meantime continued observance of
moratoria on nuclear tests, the two sides sought immediate
start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty
(FMCT), including verification provisions, on the basis of
consensus agreement on a programme of work reached in May
2009. India is also not a signatory to the CTBT. PTI LKJ